Atlas, Facebook’s ad serving and measurement platform that allows brands to reach people across multiple devices, has agreed a global partnership with Havas Media Group.

The global deal will have a heavy focus on US and Western Europe and will see the communications network offering the ad server to its clients during 2015. 

The partnership will see Havas Media Group offering Atlas to clients across Latam (Q2), Middle East (Q3) and APAC (Q4). Havas Media Group becomes the first company to announce a partnership with this scale and geographical focus. 

The connection of Atlas with Havas Media Group’s Artemis data platform gives clients the opportunity to accurately track all interactions people have with a brand up to (and beyond) the point of purchase, as they experience a variety of brand messages across all media. 

Dominique Delport, Global Managing Director Havas Media Group comments: “Havas Media Group has spent the last 15 years investing in market leading data driven solutions through Artemis its proprietary data platform. This partnership, coupled with our clients’ data, will enable us to find out how people are interacting with brands and then purchasing products as they travel across devices. We have been working with the Atlas team now since June 2014 and are delighted that we have partnered with a platform that can take our analysis beyond previously limiting cookie based offers. It will allow us to filter, clean and manage data with unprecedented granularity. This relationship with Atlas, including our participation as a member of the Atlas Product Council, will enable us to offer best in class, tech neutral solutions for our clients”. 

Erik Johnson, director, Atlas says: "This is a great step for Atlas and Havas Media Group, bringing the power of people based marketing to more brands in more countries. Havas Media Group has been a supporter of our approach that helps brands reach real people across devices and publishers. The geographical focus and depth of potential client absorption makes this partnership significant for the industry." 

The partnership takes immediate effect with more Havas Media Group clients expected to work with the new platform in the coming months.

Award winning MD, Sabry, moves to head up JWT Dubai,Cairo office promotes Azmy as new managing director

JWT announced the strategic appointment of award winning managing director, Mohammed Sabry, to head up the agency’s flagship operation in Dubai.  Appointed by Michiel Hofstee, JWT’s CEO for the Gulf region, Sabry moves from JWT Cairo, where he has led the Egyptian team since 2010.  He will report directly to Hofstee.  At the same time, the agency announced the internal promotion of Mai Azmy to managing director, JWT Cairo.

In his previous role, Sabry successfully led JWT Cairo, maintaining the largest and most creative agency in Egypt.  During his tenure, the agency secured - amongst many accolades - WARC’s title of the World’s Smartest Campaign for Vodafone “Fakka” as well as the country’s first ever Gold Cannes Lion award.   Under his tenure JWT Cairo launched three new offerings, JWT Entertainment, JWT Ethos and JWT Experience.  His leadership made the Egyptian team the most sought after agency in the country, building strong client relationships, and growing the agency business through innovative diversification.

Commenting on the appointment, Hofstee said “I have come to know Mohammed Sabry as a creative, an entrepreneur – completely passionate about our product which he believes will drive the business of our clients.  He has demonstrated a unique understanding of growing clients’ businesses through leveraging the WPP group offering, driving brands to the next level with this intense amalgam of knowledge. With Mohammed’s focus on growing the Dubai operation to the next level I can drive the Gulf agenda across our regional offering more aggressively, focusing on diversification and acquisition.”

In JWT Cairo, Azmy has been promoted from deputy to managing director, securing a smooth and seamless handover for the world-class team following Sabry’s departure. A core contributor to the agency since 2009, Azmy, an Egyptian national, has been deploying key capabilities at JWT for the last 6 years including assignments in Dubai. Her management of multinational and local clients in Egypt include, Vodafone Egypt, Nestle Ice Cream & Confectionery, Mondelez, Shell, Contact and Zeego to name a few.  Azmy is closely plugged into JWT’s global network. 

New site is sharper and more shareable

Al Jazeera English has relaunched aljazeera.com, giving prominence to its most important real-time reporting with a new polished design.

“Welcome to the new aljazeera.com. We had one thing in mind when we redesigned our website: You. We want to enable you to better access, share and engage with our very best content from around the world. Across the website, we've made it easier for you to access the content that appeals most to you” comments Wilfrid Dinnick, Executive Producer of Online.  “We want your experience to be rich, informative and customised to your interest.”

Highlights of the new changes include:

‘Editor’s picks’; highlighting the most original reporting of the day -- the stories you won’t find anywhere else

The left side of the homepage is the ‘fast  lane’;  this is a real time feed of everything we publish. It is also a live blog during breaking news events, enabling our news teams to share their latest, most definitive journalism from the field. The team of online editors will regularly update it with notes about the news we are currently chasing.

An icon on the article pages that highlights when AJE journalists have added new information to the stories

A new column on the right side of our homepage where you’ll find the latest episodes of our award-winning shows and documentaries – which remain entirely free to view

AlJazeera.com has a consistent look whether viewed on smartphones, tablets and from your computer, but optimized for each screen and browser.

The new design also makes content more sharable.

55% believe they are overweight, and 63% are trying to lose weight.

83% say they are willing to pay a premium for foods with healthy attributes.

The battle against the bulge is an UAE phenomenon that could translate into real opportunity for manufacturers, according to a new study by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy. 55% of the UAE respondents in Nielsen’s Global Health & Wellness Survey consider themselves overweight. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, more than 66% of men and 60% of women in the UAE are overweight or obese. Nielsen’s study shows that consumers are attempting to take charge of their health—63% are actively trying to lose weight and 83% are willing to pay more for foods with healthy attributes to some degree.

The obesity crisis and consumer desire to become healthier could be a growth driver for manufacturers who better align their offerings to consumer needs and desires for healthier food. Roughly 90% of UAE respondents believe they “are what they eat” and nearly 87% are actively using foods to forestall health issues and medical conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.

“In the past, obesity was a sign of wealth in the Arab world. But the health awareness has changed into the right direction which is a great opportunity for retailers and food manufacturers who can seize the opportunity now,” said Arslan Ashraf, managing director, Nielsen Arabian Peninsula. “Consumers in the Gulf region are willing to change for a healthier living and looking for every support they can get especially from health conscious food as exercising in the summer months in our region becomes more challenging.”

The Nielsen Global Health & Wellness Survey polled 30,000 online respondents in 60 countries to identify how consumers feel about their body image and the steps they’re taking to get healthier.

ARE CONSUMERS WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR FOODS WITH HEALTHY ATTRIBUTES?

Consumers believe health attributes in the foods they eat are important, but are they willing to pay more for the benefits they provide? The answer is yes—to a degree. A willingness to pay a premium for health benefits is higher in developing markets than elsewhere. More than eight-in-10 respondents in UAE (83%) say they’re willing to pay more for foods with health attributes to some degree. Dividing UAE respondents into four buckets of spending intent, the highest percentages are only moderately willing to pay a premium for health claims—an average of 38% across 27 attributes included in the study. About one-third of UAE respondents are very willing to pay a premium (34%), followed by 19% who are slightly willing and only 8% who are not willing.

For most attributes, there is also a gap between the percentage of respondents that say a health attribute is very important and the percentage that are very willing to pay a premium. For example, 43% of UAE respondents say the absence of GMOs (genetically modified organism) is very important in the foods they purchase, but only 34% are very willing to pay a premium for these products—a 9-percentage point difference.

One notable exception is organic foods. Thirty-nine percent of respondents say organics are very important and thirty-eight percent is also very willing to pay a premium for these products.

WHICH HEALTHY ATTRIBUTES ARE CONSUMERS LOOKING FOR?

Developing markets lead the way in the desire for healthy attributes but not all ingredients are equally important. So what healthy attributes are UAE consumers looking for?

When it comes to the foods we eat, consumers are going back to the basics. Respondents were asked to rate health attributes from very important to not important in their purchase decisions. The top desirable attributes are foods that are fresh, natural and minimally processed. Foods with all natural ingredients and those high in fiber are considered very important to 56% and 53% of UAE respondents—the highest percentages of the 27 attributes included in the study. In addition, about five-in-10 UAE respondents say foods made from vegetables/fruits (52%) and food with low / no cholesterol (52%) as well as the absence of artificial flavors and colors (48%) are very important.

In addition, consumers are looking for functional foods that provide benefits that can either reduce their risk of disease and/or promote good health. Forty-seven percent of UAE respondents rate foods that are fortified with vitamins and 46 % that have whole grain as very important or are fortified with calcium (46%) or high in protein (44%) to fulfill their nutritional needs. 

Less is more for half of UAE respondents who say it’s very important that foods are low in cholesterol (52%) and for one-fourth foods are low in sugar (41%), fat (40%) and salt (40%). In addition, about one-third believe the absence of high fructose corn syrup (33%), gluten (32%) and caffeine (30%) is very important.

Environmental and socioeconomic concerns also factor into purchase decisions. Over one-third think organic (39%) and local herbs/ingredients (38%) are very important in their purchasing decisions, and 31% say sustainably sourced are very desirable.

HOW ARE CONSUMERS LOSING WEIGHT?

In the UAE, the majority of respondents rely on tried-and-true methods to lose weight—diet and exercise. Nearly three quarters of UAE respondents who are trying to lose weight plan to exercise (72%) and 69% plan to change their diet. Six percent say they take diet pill/bars/shakes, 5% use medicine prescribed by their doctor and 5% use other methods not described in the survey. 

Among those who are changing their diet to lose weight, over two-thirds (67%) say they are cutting down on fats and 61% are eating less chocolate and sugary sweets. Conversely, more than half of UAE respondents (59%) are expanding their diets with more natural, fresh foods.

Eating smaller portions is the diet method of choice for almost five-in-10 UAE respondents (48%) and 34% of UAE respondents are choosing to consume fewer processed foods (34%) followed by the choice of a low-carbohydrate diet (30%). One-in-four (24%) respondents are following another non-specified diet plan, and one-in-10 (10%) are opting for commercial slimming programs like Weight Watchers.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

Given the high interest in getting healthier, “good-for-you” products are strongly positioned for growth. Over forty percent of UAE respondents say they plan to buy more fruit (47%), vegetables (44%) and water (43%) in the next six months. In addition, one-third plan to buy more juices (33%) and fish and seafood (31%), and one-fourth plan to buy more yoghurt (27%) as well as nuts and seeds (27%). 

While respondents intend to eat healthier in the next six months, everyone needs a treat sometimes. The largest percentage of respondents expect to buy the same amount in nearly all categories, including indulgences such as ice cream and frozen novelties (42%), cookies and cakes (42%)  and potato chips/salty snacks (37%).

“There is no doubt that consumers in the Gulf region are conscious of the phenomena of overweight and obesity. More than 60% are also trying to change their lifestyle but reality shows that there is low incidence of efforts actually put in by the consumers to fight the issue of obesity. There is still a long way to go to adapt knowledge and efforts into consumers’ lifestyles,” so Ashraf.

Australia’s largest home grown café restaurant launches in conjunction with the brand’s 25th Anniversary

The Coffee Club, a cafe that serves more than 40 million cups of coffee every year, has officially opened for the first time in UAE.

The Coffee Club is well-known for its famous all day breakfast and serves as a relaxed meeting place for approximately 30 million annual customers. Its first outlet in UAE was inaugurated by Liwa Minor Food and Beverages joint venture board members Mr. Abdulla Nasser Al Mansoori, the Chairman of the Board at Al Nasser Holdings and Group, Mr. Michael Chick, General Manager, Liwa Minor Food and Beverages LLC at Yas Mall in the capital Abu Dhabi along with distinguished guests who attended the unveiling.

Commenting on the launch of the Coffee Club in Abu Dhabi, Mr. Michael Chick said: “With the United Arab Emirates’ diverse, multicultural population of expats as well as its openness to host new brands and concepts, the nation represents an ideal launch venue for our brand in the GCC. Moreover, the easy process and procedures for setting up business in UAE was another attracting factor for us to consider launching our outlets here.”

He continued, “The UAE is home to an estimated 7000 Australian expatriates and the Gulf state is Australia’s most important trading partner in the Middle East and North African region with trade valued at AED 19.8 billion in 2012.”

Mr. Abdulla Nasser Al Mansoori added, “We are very pleased to bring Australia’s largest coffee chain The Coffee Club to the UAE. The initial guest reaction of the first store has been great and we anticipate a great momentum particularly during the weekends when it’s a very busy with families.”

“Within the next three years we hope to expand into other markets in the GCC,” he added.

Liwa Minor Food and Beverages, the joint venture company of local operator Al Nasser Holdings and Thai publicly listed company Minor Food Group are excited to bring The Coffee Club to the region as its first food brand. Since its inception in 1989, The Coffee Club has become Australia’s largest home-grown café group with more than 360 cafés throughout 9 countries including Thailand, Egypt and China. The Coffee Club, which employs more than 6,000 staff, is well known for its all day breakfast and excellent coffee served in a relaxing and comfortable setting.

 “In addition to providing good food, great service and excellent coffee, The Coffee Club aims at welcoming its customers in a relaxed place that enriches contemporary lifestyles and offers an ideal atmosphere for casual and business meetings and most importantly the answer to “Where will I meet you?”, Mr. Al Mansoori added.  

The company intends to bring its freshly prepared products to the region’s residential and commercial communities. Another eight cafes and restaurants are in the pipeline in the UAE while it is expected to reach 25 cafes in the country within the next 4 years.

Following the opening of its first outlet in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall, The Coffee Club will next open at the upcoming Wasl Vita Mall in Dubai. 

In conjunction with its launch in the UAE, this November The Coffee Club celebrates 25 years of Good Food, Great Service & Excellent Coffee.

The Coffee Club offers a variety of food options including sensational salads, sandwiches, light meals and pastas. Customers will always find something to delight their taste buds throughout the day. 

• A wide variety of Gourmet ice cream and Luxury handcrafted chocolates available

• The first to offer unique flavors such as Medjool date and ambrosial Saffron exclusively in the region

Dubai finally gets a taste of royal treatment with the launch of Scoopi Café, a brainchild of Zubin Doshi. Inspired by the modernistic technique well-liked in America, Scoopi brilliantly blends elements of molecular gastronomy and use of liquid nitrogen to offer unique gourmet experience. Located conveniently on Jumeirah Beach Road, the chic parlor offers a boutique outlook that best reflects the distinct flavours of ice cream and chocolates made available at the store. 

The gourmet ice cream is available from AED 15 and above, while the handcrafted chocolates are priced from AED 126 onward. Each creation is skillfully crafted from bean to bite, invoking a sophisticated and luxurious experience that aims for the highest quality. The proud assortment, provides a remarkable range of interesting ice creams including sea salted pecan, candy peanuts and chocolate covered coffee beans, alongside more exotic flavours inspired by other popular sweet treats, such as Medjool Date and ambrosial Saffron exclusively available at Scoopi. 

The secret to the quality and taste of these sweet-toothed creations is liquid nitrogen, which is used to freeze ice cream at low temperatures, producing a smoother product with a buttery texture, in less than a minute. The rapid freezing cycle produces smaller ice crystals creating the densest and most flavourful ice cream, in just minutes, without compromising on taste.  

On top of these fantastic indulgences, the brand also offers exquisite luxury handcrafted chocolates created in honor of the city’s burgeoning chocolate scene. The owner’s decision to make this addition was inspired by a holiday to Antwerp in Belgium, where he toured several handcrafted chocolate operations during his holiday sparking the idea for a new business venture.  The utmost care is taken over the preparation and ingredients, all personally made and tested by the owner who does not use any artificial preservatives or emulsifiers to prolong shelf-life. Instead, he chooses to work with the finest ingredients available such as cream from Denmark, hand-picked Boiron fruit from France and chocolate from the luxury manufacturer Valrhona.

Commenting on the launch, Doshi said, “Scoopi offers its consumer’s pure pleasure from its first distinctive taste to the last bite. Popular ice-cream products in the city are priced lower, but we expect Dubai's increasingly aspirational consumers to readily pay a premium for a superior product. So far we have got a good response and we are confident that Scoopi will appeal to people who are eager to indulge in an experience that is truly unique.”

Scoopi will roll out its premium ice creams and chocolates in the city this month to cater to the growing aspirations of Dubai's discerning consumers. With the launch of this outlet, the brand marks its foray into UAE and brings its signature wholesome goodness to Dubai.

Shoppers never stop shopping, and retailers must evolve to stay ahead of the pack and keep consumers engaged.Today, brick-and-mortar stores need to innovate continually to capture their shoppers’ attention as e-commerce attracts a growing number of users. In addition, while consumer confidence was on the rise in over half of the countries Nielsen surveyed in the third quarter of 2013, including the U.S., shoppers remain focused on value for their money. As a result, retailers need to stand out to compete for consumers' limited baskets.  

Innovation captures consumer interest and attention, attracting both new customers and faithful loyalists. It can provide retailers with an edge in five major shopper-need categories: convenience, choice or assortment, shopability, price-value, and brand equity.

However, there is no secret formula for successful ideas and certainly nothing that can be protected by patent. At the same time, breakthroughs are often copied quickly and easily. Consequently, retailers must innovate continually to grow and stay ahead.

Large-scale retail malls have been a growing trend across every maturing market in the GCC. Dubai has earned its position as the leading market in retail across the region to daate, however, a melting pot of different cultures, nationalities and languages in turn means a variety of consumer trends.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s recent report on the real estate market in Dubai, no significant retail mall space was completed in Q2 of this year, with total supply expected to reach 2.58 million sqm by the end of 2011. This impressive number is not anticipated to increase until at least 2014, as Dubai’s mall developers begin to focus on enhancing the existing retail environments in outlets they already have and tactics to ensure their survival.

Abu Dhabi, Beirut and Cairo have all been cited as emerging retail markets, focusing on the construction of purpose built regional and community malls, catering to their geographical catchment areas. Cities such as Doha, Jeddah and Muscat are regarded as maturing markets, moving into the space that Dubai once occupied when it began the development of large, multi-purpose malls. Dubai is now moving into the realm of convenience, highlighting the emirate’s need for malls which focus their offerings more acutely, paying close attention to their catchment communities and providing accordingly. 

Consumers now think not only with their feet, but with their mobile phone as well. The ways in which retailers can communicate with their target audiences has increased significantly. The growth of e-commerce, including Facebook, Twitter and online retailing, has actually made retailers feel that they are not in control of what is going on with their consumers. Consumers are much more complex and sophisticated, they are saying what they want, when they want it and what they want to pay for.

GCC countries’ retail sectors are evolving at differing rates, with Dubai continuing to take the lead as the most mature market. As the dominance of malls grows in countries such as Saudi and Kuwait, the step-by step solution to driving footfall can help them to put a long-term strategy in place that will ensure the rate of development evolves alongside the consumer market.

Appointment renews focus on international brand development with full slate of 2015 programming

CLIO, the esteemed international advertising, design and communications competition, today announced the promotion of Nicole Purcell to president, marking the first time in a decade the role has been appointed. Having led the rapidly expanding business and team for the previous four years, Purcell will continue to build CLIO’s worldwide presence and programs.

Purcell began her tenure in the role of executive director and made it her mission to expand the brand’s reach and offerings. From the original two programs, CLIO Awards and CLIO Healthcare, the programming lineup now includes CLIO Image, CLIO Sport, CLIO Music and The Key Art Awards.

“Early on in my CLIO career, I had a vision for what this brand could be – creative, innovative, inspirational – a true mirror of the creative we applaud,” said Nicole Purcell, president, CLIO. “Moving into this new chapter with a renewed energy, my top priority is continuing to build our great brand presence. The creative work we represent is in many ways the core of pop culture, and it’s important for CLIO to be a part of that conversation.”

Currently, CLIO is gearing up for the “Creative Bowl,” a recently announced initiative to name the top ad in 2015’s Big Game. Working with Rob Reilly,global creative chairman at McCann Worldgroup, and an expert jury of peers, the winning creative will be announced at 4pm on Monday, February 2. The following day Purcell will present the winning agency with the Super CLIO. Coverage will appear on all CLIO social channels and clios.com.

"Nicole has taken her love for ideas, advertising, art and design and turned it into one of the most formidable and comprehensive creative franchises, dedicated to celebrating the people who make the world's coolest stuff,” said Rob Schwartz, CEO, TBWA/Chiat/Day New York.

Purcell’s work at CLIO has been informed by a long history of event marketing and production. Prior to her current role, Purcell co-owned Rock Media and Entertainment, and grew fashion weeks in Los Angeles and Miami. For many years, Purcell was also under the wing of Richard Tarzian, owner of The Passion Group, formerly ICC. In that experience, Purcell was able to build a foundation and learn firsthand how to run a business.

“The last year marked a big step in the evolution of CLIO, with new extensions and an increased international presence,” said Jeffrey Wilbur, president, Mediabistro Holdings. “The growth and results are directly related to Nicole’s passion for this brand and industry. We know 2015 is going to be a landmark year with Nicole at the helm.”

CNN International, the world’s leader in international news, and McLaren Technology Group announced today that CNN is confirmed as a new McLaren-Honda partner for the 2015 Formula 1 season and beyond.

The multi-year global partnership brings together two world-class pioneering brands, both of which have spent decades building a strong reputation for being first in their field. In a natural fit for both CNN International and McLaren Technology Group, each company operates in a dynamic, dizzyingly fast environment where success is judged as much by speed of response as by continual innovation and quality of product. 

For the 2015 season, the partnership sees CNN’s branding appear on the front-wing endplates of the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30 Formula 1 car, which will be unveiled in an online launch on January 29th. It also allows for CNN’s use of McLaren’s soon-to-open thought leadership centre, based within the McLaren Technology Campus in Woking, Surrey, UK, from which CNN International will produce several programmes to be broadcast globally across its network.

The partnership comes at an exciting time for both brands – CNN has again been named the world’s number one international news brand and has won a clutch of awards including News Channel of the Year for the past two years from the Royal Television Society; McLaren heads into the 2015 Formula 1 World Championship with a new car, a new engine partner and the best driver line-up in Formula 1: world champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. 

The dynamic nature of the deal means that both parties see the potential to amplify the scope and scale of the partnership in the years to come, in areas such as sharing expertise and resources, cross-marketing their brands, and utilising networking and business relationships. 

Rani Raad, Chief Commercial Officer, CNN International, said:

“This is a groundbreaking partnership between two trusted brands with a passion for high performance and continued innovation. Committed to being first, we share a mutual respect for each other’s operations – whether that’s the tenacity of CNN journalists in going to the heart of a story or McLaren’s forensic focus for every F1 race. With a shared global footprint and highly engaged audience, there’s a lot of expertise and best practice that we can both invest in this partnership.

“The added exposure CNN International will gain through our association with McLaren is part of an expansive consumer engagement initiative to capitalise on the power of our brand and consolidate our position as the world’s biggest international news brand. The additional business, broadcasting and cross-marketing opportunities made possible by this multi-year deal will forge a close relationship between two companies on the world stage. 

“In CNN International’s 30th anniversary year, I will be incredibly proud to see the CNN brand on the new McLaren-Honda car when it lines up on the starting grid in Melbourne.”

Ron Dennis, Chairman and CEO, McLaren Technology Group, said:

“There is an inherent symmetry between McLaren and CNN that makes us perfectly attuned for partnership. Like McLaren, CNN is a tremendously powerful and influential global network, one that has spent decades pioneering the latest technologies and techniques in a relentless, unforgiving, fast-paced environment. I think we understand each other on many levels.

“Equally, we’ve each based a deep-rooted culture of success on our core values – our belief in the strength of teamwork and technology – yet our flexibility and dynamism permit us to move seamlessly and effortlessly in order further to push the boundaries of technology and exploration.

“The partnership between McLaren and CNN is unique in that it operates on a very broad scope. Our shared love of technology has united us: together we will pursue new opportunities far beyond the conventional scope of a Formula 1 partnership.

“I think the executives at CNN are as excited as we are about the potential of this relationship.”

JWT wins the pitch and retains partnership with Zain Kuwait 

12 Year Bond With Leading Mobile and Data Service Provider Stronger Than Ever

Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait announced the renewal of its partnership with marketing communications agency, JWT Kuwait, following a competitive pitch where JWT Kuwait beat local competitors to win the pitch and retain the business. The agency’s 12-year bond with the leading mobile and data service provider in Kuwait, has been rekindled and is stronger than ever.

Zain is the leading mobile operator in Kuwait and a dominant mobile player elsewhere across the Middle East, operating in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, KSA, South Sudan and Sudan.  The operator partners with innovative global brands to set high standards for quality and technical excellence.  It continuously strives to bring the latest technologies to it customers and frequently adds to its list of "firsts" be that in technology, coverage, services or offerings.

JWT has partnered Zain Kuwait in its marketing objectives since 2002, supporting a progressive brand building relationship between the operator and its extensive customer base.  The combination of brand value and customer-centric drive to provide innovative solutions, makes the Zain brand any creative agency's dream client.  JWT’s culture of creating pioneering ideas that build brand and business saw the agency innovate with true Kuwaiti insight combined with world class ambition and capabilities, supported by a strong agency network in MENA and globally.  

Omar Saud Al Omar, Chief Executive Officer of Zain Kuwait said, “Throughout the whole pitch process, we were impressed by JWT’s determination to maintain our business. Their strategic thinking and creative ideas scored high and their initiative to implement a performance-based component into the new agreement will go a long way in making us stronger partners.”

Commenting on the win, Michiel Hofstee, CEO JWT Gulf said, “We are delighted that our strong partnership with Zain Kuwait allows us to continue developing powerful strategic thinking and creativity for this wonderful national brand. I believe that our relationship - elevated to the next level - and our new operating model will truly push the agency to do the best possible work for the Zain Brand.”

There is renewed momentum at JWT Kuwait, with Zain Kuwait being the first business win announced by the transformed leadership team of Kuwaiti national, Anes Al Rayes, appointed as Executive Creative Director and Francois Kanaan named as Managing Director in 2014.